Over 1,000 pickleballers converge for sponsored tournament

HONOLULU — A celebration and congregation of the rising sport of pickleball took place at the Hawaii Convention Center last week as more than 1,000 people, amateur and professional, took part in the Hawaii Pacific Health ESPN Honolulu Open.

A total of 38 courts in two exhibition halls were in use for a variety of skill levels. The sound of paddles smacking yellow pickleballs was a steady hum while hundreds of others milled about to watch.

About $10,000 was paid out to pro men’s and women’s teams. Some 800 people played in the primary tournament, and 200-plus more played in the corporate challenge.

[Note: See below for more photos of the Hawaii Pacific Health ESPN Honolulu Open.]

“It was great working with AIO, the owners of ESPN (Honolulu), and it was fantastic with their leadership to pull together the different organizations to host the largest ever pickleball tournament in Hawaii,” Michael Hoxie, tournament manager for Phoenix-based Pickleball is Great, told Spectrum News on Sunday.

As he spoke, dozens of courts were still in use for mixed doubles competitions. The best featured rapid-fire exchanges at the net between the four players.

Pickleball rules are similar to tennis, but on a court less than half the size — closer in dimensions to a badminton court.

Earlier in the week, there were clinics for all ages and a two-day competition for seniors (50-plus).

Competition Saturday and Sunday was for the open divisions. Some 65-plus competitors came in from the mainland and there were another 26 international players from places like Russia, Canada, Taiwan and Japan, according to Hoxie.

A local duo of first-time teammates, Keven Wong and Tama Shimabukuro, won the open men’s doubles title, defeating Kento Tamaki and Callan Dawson 12-10, 13-15 in the final.

Shimabukuro, a teenager and emerging local star, told KHON2 afterward, “Thanks to Keven for playing with me. Super fun event.”

He said his intention is to go professional and join the Professional Pickleball Association tour.

In women’s doubles, Jamie Haas of Oahu teamed with Christina Chin of Canada to defeat Dana Raugust and Xiao Yi Wang Beckvall, 11-7, 11-9.

Christina Chin slapped hands with her mixed doubles partner Ernesto Fajardo after making a diving save and later winning the point. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

“Thank you for putting this event together,” Haas, known as the “Lefty Hawaiian,” told KHON2. “It’s allowed our families to come together, some I haven’t seen in years.”

Hoxie said a return event is in the works. Hawaii is one of 35 states for 150 local tournaments that Pickleball is Great is putting on this year.

“We’re certainly planning on having this again next year,” he said. “We’re looking for dates. We know the convention center has some remodeling (planned), so we want to make sure that we choose the right dates to bring back the fun, because it was a huge success with a lot of compliments.”